Serena Williams was forced to forfeit her first match at Wimbledon after sustaining a leg injury due to a slippery court.
On Tuesday, Williams played against Aliaksandra Sasnovich when she slipped and hurt her right leg during a return about 20 minutes into the match, reported CNN. The 39-year-old took a medical time out before she returned to the court.
The seven-time Wimbledon champ continued to play normally until she screamed and collapsed to the ground in pain.
Serena Williams receives a standing ovation from the crowd at #Wimbledon
Williams was forced to retire in the first round of after sustaining an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/exFZxJJZGh
— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2021
Consequently, Williams had to retire from the game. As she tearfully walked off the court, she received a standing ovation from the crowd. The withdrawal is the first time Williams ever lost during the first round of Wimbledon. Before her injury, she was vying for her 24th Grand Slam title.
After the match, Williams admitted she was sad about the outcome.
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“I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg,” she wrote on Instagram. “My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on center court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on – and off – the court meant the world to me.”
Williams is the second player to be harmed due to the slippery grass. French player Adrian Mannarino also slipped and hurt his leg the same day during a match against Roger Federer.
Despite the hurt players, the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) claimed there was nothing wrong with the court’s condition.
“The preparation of the grass courts has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years,” the organization said in a statement to Buzzfeed News. “Each grass court is checked by the Grand Slam Supervisors, Referee’s Office and Grounds team ahead of play commencing, and on both days of the Fortnight, they have been happy with the conditions and cleared the courts for play.”
